Leaders celebrate Nebraska’s ongoing Interstate 80 expansion as economic boon

Gov. Jim Pillen, at right, leads a news conference celebrating Nebraska's Interstate 80 expansion project and other Interstate and rest area improvements Monday, April 29, 2024, in Lincoln. He is joined, from left, by Director Vicki Kramer of the Nebraska Department of Transportation, State Sen. Beau Ballard of Lincoln and Chris Hawkins of Hawkins Construction. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen and other state leaders Monday celebrated the ongoing Interstate 80 expansion between Lincoln and Pleasant Dale as an economic boon.

From left, Capt. Greg Miller of the Nebraska State Patrol, Director Vicki Kramer of the Nebraska Department of Transportation, Gov. Jim Pillen, State Sen. Beau Ballard of Lincoln and Chris Hawkins of Hawkins Construction. April 29, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Vicki Kramer, director of the Nebraska Department of Transportation, said the three-year I-80 project, which began earlier this month, includes expanding from two lanes in each direction to three. The project has been in the works for decades and is designed to increase mobility. It is the largest planned transportation project for the 2024 construction season.

“If anybody’s coming in from Grand Island, they know how difficult it gets the closer you get to Lincoln — the congestion, the truck traffic — it gets dangerous,” Kramer said. “Safety is of the utmost importance to us, and it will be the main component of this project.”

In addition to lane expansion, the project will include other Interstate and rest area improvements at the US-6 and 192nd Street interchange and the West Dodge Road interchange in Omaha as well as a new roundabout at Highway 77 near Wahoo.

Kramer said work on the first 17 or so miles of the project is already underway.

Pillen said Nebraskans all agree on former President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s vision of interstate commerce, which “was extraordinary and transformed our country of economic vitality.”

In 1974, after 17 years of construction, Nebraska became the first state to complete its portion of I-80 from east to west, Pillen noted: a 455-mile stretch of road at a cost of $435 million.

State Sen. Beau Ballard of Lincoln, whose district includes NW 56th Street where the project kicks off in west Lincoln, said one of the top issues he hears from constituents is infrastructure. He said the expansion will grow Nebraska, propel its future and enhance market capabilities.

“This project is going to be a game changer for my community,” Ballard told the Nebraska Examiner. “This will not only benefit safety and convenience but also be beneficial for quality of life.”

Chris Hawkins, CEO and president of Hawkins Construction. April 29, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Chris Hawkins, CEO and president of Hawkins Construction, said that after years of programming and design, the state can celebrate as his crews get to work.

“For Hawkins, we’re just starting,” Hawkins said. “I’ll save the celebration until this project is successfully completed, which it will be.”

Traffic is not expected to be significantly impacted, though Kramer noted it is a heavily congested area, so night work and other approaches will be used to prioritize safety.

Pillen encouraged Nebraskans to “really slow down, tap the brakes” and use common sense as construction season progresses.

“Take a breath. Slow down when you see construction. And abide by all the signs,” Pillen said. “We’ll get there, just slow it down and be extra, extra safe.”

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